03/20/2011 @ 7:10 am, by Victoria ReidComments Off on Toseland Out for Donington & Assen After Testing Crash

James Toseland will miss at least the next two World Superbike rounds after crashing during private testing on Friday at Motorland Aragon. The former WSBK champion crashed on Friday in a highside at Turn 10, landing heavily on his head and right wrist. Initially Spanish doctors gave Toseland the go-ahead to race this coming weekend at Donington Park, after examining hi,m and finding only a small fracture in the wrist.

“But when I got back to the hotel, the pain in my right wrist was unbelievable and, considering that I had a race coming up in a week’s time, I sent the scan on to a specialist I know in Manchester,” said Toseland. “They took a new X-ray from a different position in Manchester and found that I had badly displaced bones in my wrist. At that point, things were getting critical as there was no blood flow in the wrist, meaning that the bone could die if I wasn’t operated on immediately.”

During the surgery, wires were implanted in Toseland’s wrist. These wires cannot be removed for at least six weeks, keeping him from racing at his home round at Donington as well as the subsequent round at Assen. Toseland added on his Facebook page, “Hey guys, just letting you know that I’m ok after yesterday’s emergency operation on my wrist – really gutted that I have to miss Donington and Assen but counting myself lucky.” He hopes to be fit for Monza, but it is possible for the recovery to last longer than six week.

Toseland and BMW Motorrad Italia teammate Ayrton Badovini had joined the factory Kawasaki team for testing at the Spanish circuit last week, hoping to make improvements after bad weather ruined their winter testing. In the sunny conditions the Italian satellite team “tried some new solutions that have improved the feeling with the bike, [and] the new geometry makes the bike more responsive to changes,” said Badovini.

He continued, “I’m sorry for the incident of James, I wish him to recover quickly and return as soon as possible, because it ‘s very important for us his work and his presence!” There is no information yet as to a replacement for the injured Briton, who provides experience in WSBK for the Italian team and rookie teammate Badovini.